Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!

CAMP: Girls! Sign up today for Camp Gan Yisroel!! Space is limited and filling fast.. Early bird special is available for a ONE more week. Click here for more info.

BIKUR CHOLIM: Mr. Zev (William) Oster is in Windsor Care and in need of visitors mainly to help him put tefilin on. He is a lefty and does not have his own pair of tefilin there. Please text/call Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127 so we can schedule it properly. Address: ‎3533 Motor Ave. 90034. Room 120b. Tizku lmitzvos.

FRIDAY: Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad is scheduled for a hearing in front of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission for a student outdoor recreation center. If anyone can attend the hearing to show support, it would be very helpful. Anyone who would like to say anything at the hearing, here are some suggestions: 1. The importance of student to stay on campus and not go off campus to parks etc. 2. To have a nice big area for them to play instead of using the parking lot which is unsafe since there are cars and vehicles moving in and out. 3. This improvement will encourage students to be active and promote healthy habits. The information for the hearing is as follows: Friday, Adar-II 29/April 8, 10 am at the City Hall 10th floor, Room 1020. 200 N. Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012. There may be some rides available. If you need more information, or to schedule a ride, please call the office at 323-937-3763.

Nissan:
Preparing for Dramatic Instantaneous Change
that will bring the World from Galus to Geula!By Rabbi Shimon Raichik

This week’s parsha of Shemini begins on the eighth day of the inauguration of the Mishkon with Aaron and his sons beginning their service. A fire came from Hashem to consume their offerings and the Shechina, the divine presence came to dwell in the Mishkon. How does this parsha relate to each one of us today?

As we prepare for Pesach and the month of Nissan, a month of geula and miracles we have in mind that everything can change in a second. One second we can be in Mitzrayim and the next on our way out. In one moment a person can be a Levi and in the next a Kohen Gadol. In one moment we can have a heart of stone and in the next a heart of flesh as it says in the haftarah: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). On the eighth day an everlasting Kedusha came to the Mishkon, a kedusha that we had experienced at Matan Torah but had lost at the sin of the golden calf. In just one moment we got it back.

We should not be surprised by the idea of instantaneous change. We just look around and see a world transforming around us. Old world orders and old governments topple and new one’s arise overnight. Information travels in an instant and as a result the global attitude changes in an instant. Stock exchanges and market shares rise and fall in minutes. New technologies appear and change the way we live forever. We see from this week’s parsha that this is even more so when it comes to our relationship with Hashem. We can change everything in dramatic ways, but for that to happen we have to do our part. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that a neshama comes down into this world for a purpose. It may be just to do one favor for someone else. We all have a shlichus and we have been given all that we need to get there. With Yud Aleph Nissan approaching we are reminded that we have the koach hamishaleiach, the Rebbe’s influence to constantly draw upon. The question is do we realize what we have? Do we realize what the possibilities are? Do we accept that what we do DOES make a big difference?

As we enter this coming month with anticipation and an expectation be part of the miracles and a witness to the possibility of an instant change we create that possibility with our participation. Though everyone’s participation and all of the preparations for Pesach may we merit the full and complete revelation of Moshiach now!

CAMP: Girls! Sign up today for Camp Gan Yisroel!! Space is limited and filling fast.. Early bird special is available for a TWO more weeks. Click here for more info.

BIKUR CHOLIM: Mr. Zev (William) Oster is in Windsor Care and in need of visitors mainly to help him put tefilin on. He is a lefty and does not have his own pair of tefilin there. Please text/call Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127 so we can schedule it properly. Address: ‎3533 Motor Ave. 90034. Room 120b. Tizku lmitzvos.

Rabbi & Mrs. Levi Raichik in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.

Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Schmukler in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
Also in honor of Rabbi Meir Schmukler’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.

Purim is a unique Yom Tov on which the simcha is “adei lo yada-without limits”. Why is it called Purim? It is called Purim because it refers to the lottery that Haman cast to decide when to destroy the Jewish People, which in Persian is called a Pur- a lot.

1. Why is the word Purim, a Perisan word used, and not the word ‘goral’ a Hebrew word for lot which is also used in the Megilla (with the words “hu hagoral”)?
2. Every other Yom Tov is named after the victory that particular Yom Tov is celebrated for. For instance the Yom Tov of Chanuka is named because we rested (חנו) on the 25th (כה) from the battle. Or Pesach which because of the miracle of how the Yidden were passed over (pasach) by the plague of the firstborn at the time of the exodus.

The Rebbe explains that in the title “Megillas Ester” we find opposites. On one hand the primary character in the story has a name, Ester, whose meaning is hidden or concealed. On the other hand, the actual word Megilla means revealed. These are paradoxical states, hidden and concealed on one hand and revealed on the other.

In the story itself we find paradoxical behavior as well. When Mordecai found out about the decree, he dressed in sackcloth, fasted and called out in the street. That’s an appropriate response for a Rabbi but Mordecai was a minster, and for him diplomacy is usually the normal way to get things done. He should have called for a round table session to determine the reason for the recent spike in anti-Semitism. Ester decided to fast for three day and then enter into the court of Achashverosh. Why didn’t she just get dressed up to look her best up and then enter? What were they thinking? If they were expecting a miracle they should have fasted and then waited to see what would happen next. If on the other hand they had a political approach, Ester should have gotten ready with a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive or Saks Fifth Avenue and schedule an appointment at her hair dresser. Mordecai should have been wielding his political influence in the corridors of Shushan. Why this mixture of behaviors?

The Rebbe answers that they realized that the entire decree did not spring up out of nowhere but was because the Yidden had done something wrong. They had taken part in the feast of Achashverosh. They had participated in the Persian culture and had eaten non kosher food. Both Ester and Mordecai knew that they had to first rectify the cause by doing teshuva and only then attempt to create a vessel for a natural solution. Checks need backing before they are written. Ester began with three days of fasting and teshuva and then ventured out into the palace.

The lesson for us is that we first need to attend to our relationship with Hashem. We are then free to develop a good and broad vessel to receive Hashem’s blessing for our physical needs. One may ask that since the concealment of Hashem’s presence is so pervasive that the best idea is to go directly to diplomacy. The answer is no! First and foremost we first need to strengthen our connection to Hashem, and through our connection we are able to break through the ‘hastir astir- the double concealment’ (like the meaning of the name Ester) of the non Jewish culture and language (Pur a Persian word not goral a Hebrew word) and reveal (like the word Megilla) the Anochi Hashem- Hashem Himself even beyond a name (As we find that Hashem’s name is not written in the Megilla). This is what brings the true and complete geula and salvation and the greatest simcha until adei lo yada, beyond all limitations. And then we go from the geula of Purim to the Geula of Moshiach (which will be similar to the geula from Mitzrayim) at which time the “night will shine like day” (similar to “Megillas Ester” where the concealment will become revealed) immediately. A Guten Shabbos!

BIKUR CHOLIM: Mr. Zev (William) Oster is in Windsor Care and in need of visitors mainly to help him put tefilin on. He is a lefty and does not have his own pair of tefilin there. Please text/call Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127 so we can schedule it properly. Address: ‎3533 Motor Ave. 90034. Room 120b. Tizku lmitzvos.

Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch in honor of Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Also for the yahrtzeits of Mr. Shimon Benarroch’s father Reb Avrohom ben Reb Yosef ob”m and mother Rochel bas Reb Moshe ob"m. May the neshomos have an aliya.

Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Finck for all the miracles and kindness Hashem has shown their family. May Hashem continue to shower them and the entire community with kol tuv sela.

In describing the Jewish people’s encounter with Amalek the Torah says; “Asher karcha b’derech”. Loosely translated it means that they “met you on the way”. If we take this to mean that they confronted us on our way through the desert the Torah should have used the word “pagah” which means met or “lacham” made war; why the word “karcha”? Rashi says that the word karcha means to cool off. It means that when the Jewish people left Mitzrayim the nations of the world were trembling after hearing about the miracles of the exodus and the crossing of the Yam Suf. No one dared to challenge the Jewish people. When nevertheless Amalek attacked he cooled off that fear, even though he was defeated.

The word karcha opens up the deeper meaning of this fateful encounter and teaches us what the real and lasting effect of Amalek was and is today in daily living. Amalek made us cold spiritually either through their unparalleled chutzpa or by their nonchalant approach to G-d and everything holy. They said, hey so what, so G-d made some miracles, what’s the big deal? After all He’s G-d and this is what He does. What else would you expect?

So why do we read this parsha every year? Because of that little voice within, that little Amalek that says ‘cool it’ don’t make such a big deal out of Judaism. It reminds us of that part within that isn’t moved to act, doubt’s Hashem and even asks; “Is Hashem really with me now in my present struggle?” “I try my best but does Hashem really care if I do yet another mitzvah?” “Does it REALLY make a difference?”

From this sentiment and these questions we slip further. It’s just the beginning of a domino effect, an entire cascade of weaknesses and defeats in the service of Hashem that we encounter as we proceed through our daily activities. In the background of our minds there remains a specific disconnect. We understand what’s good what’s right and true yet it doesn’t reach our hearts. We lack feeling. Amalek has cut off the connection as in the meaning of his name; ‘Am-malak’, malak means cut off. He cut the connection between the mind and the heart. When that happens we stop living according to our deepest beliefs.

So when does it end? How do we get out, reverse the trend and go in the opposite direction? By preparing for and celebrating Purim! About Purim it states; “V’kibel Ha’Yehudim” the Jewish people accepted that which they began to accept at Matan Torah. We renewed and refreshed our acceptance of Hashem, His Torah and our special relationship with Him through the fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos with our truest sincerity. On Purim we reached a level that was even greater than Matan Torah. We reached the level of ‘Ad d’lo yadah’ beyond intellect.

After Gimmel Tammuz many people have expressed to me their doubts about the Rebbe’s involvement in our lives. The post Gimmel Tammuz Amalek confronts us and makes us cold and questioning. It’s a domino effect. The coldness then translates into cold fabrengens and than cold mitzvos, just perfunctory and businesslike.

The following is a story told by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon A”H about my father and his son.

“My son Yossi and his wife Daniella were living in South Africa. They were challenged in their early marriage with their fertility.

Shortly before Rabbi Raichik passed away, or shortly before he got very ill, I was at a wedding at the Chabad House in Westwood. Rabbi Cunin called me over, and he said to me, “Rabbi Raichik’s brachos these days are very mekuyem, come get a bracha from Rabbi Raichik for your son.”

I walked over to Rabbi Raichik and he gave me a bracha. He said; “Your son Yossi should have children.” He said the bracha in a very strong language; “Zara chaya vekayamah, bshana zu mamash. (Actual living and lasting children in this year) ” A very powerful bracha.

I forgot about it.

A while later, six months later or so, my children Yossi and Danielle were going through a fertility procedure in South Africa. They called me and told me what’s happening and they asked me for support and so on. The call was on Erev Shabbos. On Shabbos morning I walked over to my Igros Kodesh, as I do from time to time. I randomly took out a volume and opened it up specifically with this issue in mind.

I was in total shock to see the first letter my eyes caught. It was a letter from the Rebbe, saying, “I received your pan through Rabbi Raichik,” (who had passed away by the then) “requesting a bracha for children. I hereby give you my bracha for zara chaya vekayamah. You should say kapitel chof, give tezedakah…”

I was blown away… This procedure brought about our grandson Menachem Mendel. It came from that experience (10 months later).

That was a pretty serious story? You know. It’s even true!”

The lesson we can take is that we have a choice to make. We can say ‘nice story’, be unaffected and then go on to the next thing or we can internalize what this really means. We can be affected and go on with inspiration and resolve to fight back, to respond to the voice and the message of Amalek with emunah and bitachon. Then we defeat Amalek through change and through positive action. The choice is ours.

Have you recently watched a video or read a story of the Rebbe produced by JEM? These videos, photos and stories are a vital lifeline to our hiskashrus and connection to the Rebbe. We and our children benefit tremendously from this amazing moisad!

But sometimes we take these for granted, we have come to expect an amazing story which takes weeks to research, edit, translate and produce. A video that has been lost for decades is brought to life by dedicated yungerleit who painstakingly piece it together into a masterpiece.

This morning, they launched a viewer-based donor drive, which will be going on today. The goal is to gather 3,600 donors to create a broad foundation of viewer support, giving them the stability they needs to continue its holy work.

Please help JEM reach the goal. Let’s do it for ourselves. Our Children. Our family.

Give generously and invite others to do so as well. Use the link to join the special group for Congragation Levi Yitzchak. http://tinyurl.com/h27q4sp

Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!

BIKUR CHOLIM: Mr. Zev (William) Oster is in Windsor Care and in need of visitors mainly to help him put tefilin on. He is a lefty and does not have his own pair of tefilin there. Please text/call Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127 so we can schedule it properly. Address: ‎3533 Motor Ave. 90034. Room 120b. Tizku lmitzvos.

Recently I read something told in the name of the Previous Rebbe. Someone asked the Previous Rebbe if he said the section of Tehillim divided by the week or said the entire Tehillim does he also have to say the section of Tehillim divided by the month. According to the story the Rebbe answered with an example. Even if you have a truck full of oil you still need grease for the wheels. The daily Tehillim is the grease; it gives us strength in all our activities throughout the day.

In last week’s parsha Vayakel, Moshe Rabbenu gathered the Jewish people to teach them how to make the Mishkon. After they completed the construction they came back, in this week’s parsha to Moshe Rabbenu to help them set it up. They couldn’t do it on their own. The purpose of the Mishkon is to convert the physical and lift it up to Hashem. For this we need Moshe Rabbenu who can unite everything together.

How does Moshe Rabbenu help us? In the Rebbe’s V’atah Titzaveh Maamar and many other Maamarim the Rebbe explains how Moshe Rabbenu feeds our emunah. Why does he feed our emunah if we are already believers, and children of believers? In the Rebbe’s 4th Maamar for parsha’s Ki Sisa 5711 the Rebbe asks the following question. The first time the half shekel was given was to count the Jewish people in the desert. In the years following it was given only for communal offerings. Why then does the pasuk read, “When you will count” have to do with the half shekel given for all the future generations? The Rebbe explains based on Maamarim from the Rabbeim that, “Ki Sissa” doesn’t just mean to count it also means to lift up. So just as we asked with regard to emunah, how does Moshe Rabbenu lift our heads up?

The Rebbe explains that even though we already have emunah nevertheless our emunah may not yet be integrated into our lives. He brings the example of the ganav, the thief who prays for success in his crimes. The ganav may believe but he still steals. He still steals because his emunah is still not integrated.

The Rebbe brings a few examples for who this ganev could be on a refined level. One example is a businessman who knows that everything comes from Hashem. He knows he has to give a tenth or twenty percent of his income to tzedaka and when he is successful he thanks Hashem. What happens however when the he is not successful? He starts to get nervous. He thinks he needs to do more. Suddenly he feels that there isn’t enough time for learning and not enough money for tzedaka, so he cuts back. Then a little further down the line he falls prey to shady business dealings. What is the proper path? To keep the same schedule by learning, davening and giving tzedaka the same as always and look for ways to strengthen the connection. Instead of this he’s looking into crafty and cunning ideas to get ahead. Now he’s got a lot less time for Hashem even though he has emunah, that Hashem is the one who gives him parnassa, it just hasn’t penetrated. That’s why we need Moshe Rabbenu.

A Jew once went to a tzadik for advice. He asked for help because he davens and he learns but he doesn’t feel uplifted. The tzadik asked him how long he davens and learns each day. He answered; “Three to four hours”. “And business, how long?” He asked. “Six to seven hours.” he replied. The tzadik continued; “ So how’s business?” He answered; “I’m barely making it.” The tzadik then said; “Your giving business 6-7 hours and barely making it, how can you possibly expect that your davening and learning will uplift you if you’re only giving it 3-4?” He said; “So what should I do?” The tzadik answered; “You created a wall in your life. On one side was the service of Hashem and on the other your business. The truth is that business is also the service of Hashem. It’s from the business that tzedaka and help for others comes from. You are always connected to Hashem in all that you do; both are vehicles of the service to Hashem. The feeling that you are connected 24/7 even in business comes from Moshe Rabbenu who lifts up the soul of a Jew to his essence.

Practically speaking, it’s by following the Rebbe’s guidance by learning Chitas, Rambam, going on Mivtzoyim, learning Maamarim and Davening that we get that lift that effects every area of life. They are all one thing, a Mishkon to Hashem in which Moshe gives his bracha of success to in this week’s parsha.

Click here to pay up all your kibud or yiskor pledges and outstanding membership. Thank you to all of our supporters!!!

BIKUR CHOLIM: Mr. Zev (William) Oster is in Windsor Care and in need of visitors mainly to help him put tefilin on. He is a lefty and does not have his own pair of tefilin there. Please text/call Malkiel Gradon 323-206-0127 so we can schedule it properly. Address: ‎3533 Motor Ave. 90034. Room 120b. Tizku lmitzvos.

This week is parshas Vayakel and parshas Shekalim. These two parshios, together with this year being a year of Hakel (ingathering), point as one toward a shared and inspiring message.

In parshas Vayakel Moshe Rabbenu gathered the Jewish people together for the purpose of building the Mishkon. They organized the donations and the building, which was carried out by Betzalel and Aholiav. The theme of the entire parsha is how we all come together united in purpose to achieve a dwelling place for Hashem in this world through the building of the Mishkon.

The parsha of Shekalim describes the mitzvah of everyone giving a half shekel for the building and upkeep of the Mishkon. Every single person, young and old, rich and poor were equals, we gave no more or no less to build the sockets, the foundation of the Mishkon and to pay (every year) for the communal sacrifices. The theme drives home the same point as parshas Vayakel, unity. We all give 10 gera each, which represents our very best, at the same time as great as it is it’s never more than a half, we need each other to complete the giving to be an entire shekel.

In the year of Hakel the King gathers everyone together, man, woman and child into the Beis HaMikdash on the holiday of Sukkos. He reads to them from the Torah. The purpose of this ingathering is to re-experience the revelation at Mount Sinai at the giving of the Torah to all of us who received it together as one. Once again we have the same theme of unity. In order to reach our purpose we need each other.

The last public address that we have from the Rebbe was on Shabbos parshas Vayakel, parshas Shekalim 5772-1992. The Rebbe spoke about achdus. This same theme was the focus of this Sicha; that we are one, part of one Klal Yisroel, and we should unite and stay united (A portion of this Sicha is printed in this month’s Chodesh magazine).

On the 22nd of Teves 5748-1988 three shluchim left to Russia to work on releasing the holy sefarim of the Rebbe Rashab’s and the Previous Rebbe’s library. At the time of there was a maamar (Hayosheves B’Ganim 5713) being prepared for printing and distribution. The Rebbe had one copy of the maamar and before the shluchim left they met with the Rebbe who gave each one of them one page of the maamar and said that to be able to learn the maamar they will need each other (That year was also a Hakel year).

The lesson to each one of us is clear. In order to be able to accomplish what we all need to, we need each other’s help. We cannot do it alone. The Mishkon is for everyone; the korbonos are for everyone and everyone, even the King needs each other to gather together. This mitzvah of Hakel is only accomplished when we come together and participate. Through unity we will be finish the job of ending galus and together bring Moshiach in Hakel at the third Beis HaMikdash.